"She told you this?"
"I am no mind reader, monsieur."
And then he turned away. I took one glimpse of his face and knew it
was not decent to look a second time. He had done a hideous thing, but
he was having a hideous punishment. Nature had formed him for a proud
man, and he had lived arrogantly, secure of homage. I wondered now
that he could live at all.
And so I went to work at the canoe, and waited till he should turn to
me. When he did it was with a child's plea for pity, and the
abjectness of his tone was horrible, coming from a man of his girth and
power.
"You might have done the same thing yourself, monsieur."
I bowed. I could not but toss him that bone of comfort, for it was the
truth. Sometimes a spring snaps suddenly in a man, and he becomes a
brute. How could I boast that I would be immune?
"But I would have shot myself the moment after," I said.
He had regained his level. "Then you would have been a double coward.
I shall do better."
"You think to reinstate yourself?"
"I know that I shall reinstate myself. Monsieur, I throw myself upon
your courtesy. I ask to be taken to my cousin."
"No, monsieur. I follow my wife's wishes."
"I loved her, monsieur.
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